Yuletide Blanket :: Inspiration

Even though I've designed and crocheted dozens of blankets over the years, the excitement of starting out on a new blanket journey has in no way diminished. I still get sooooooooooooooooooooo excited, like I can hardly contain the feelings as they fizz and bubble and make me feel like I've got ants in my pants. 

I've been pondering on the idea of making a Christmas blanket for the longest time (many years, on and off) but have always managed to talk myself out of it. I think I was simply too indecisive to commit to a colour palette, being that my own personal Christmas colours are "jewel brights" and this probably wouldn't work out for various reasons. As you may well know, I also have a real problem with incorporating white into my blankets and that became a massive stumbling block for me. I got all caught up in the idea that a Christmas style blanket would absolutely have to include white, and yet every time I tried to work something out it all went horribly wrong.

Eventually after much faffing (and finally deciding that white simply had to stay on the shelf), I settled on the idea of using nature as my inspiration. I made my brain forget about colourful baubles and tinsel, and began to think about the natural world instead. It seems so obvious now, but it was a real lightbulb moment at the time!

Photo Credit : Arcade Flowers

I thought about Christmas wreaths and all the beautiful natural elements that we associate with this time of year - holly, ivy, eucalyptus (my fave scent of the season), pine, orange slices, berries and cones.

Photo Credit : Schwartz

I also began to think about the flavours of the festive season - mulled wine, gingerbread, nuts, cinnamon, clementines, cloves. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, this set me off on a wave of craving and fondness for this cosy time of year which surprised me because I am truly a summer-loving girl. 

Although I was super happy with my ideas and inspiration, the colour palette came together in very slow stops and starts. I spent quite a few weeks tweaking and messing with it, adding colours in, taking colours out and fine-tuning the balance until it suddenly felt exactly right. I always know when I've got it right because I feel it right in the pit of my stomach, a very deep, visceral reaction which is full of emotion.

Once the colours were in place, the design for my Yuletide blanket came together surprisingly quickly.  I had it in my head that I wanted to make a square blanket - one big giant square so that those rounds would grow out from the centre. I've never made a giant square blanket before so this is a first for me, and I can tell you that it is ThRiLlInG!! As the rounds get bigger and bigger, there is less stopping and starting (and darning in ends) and more rhythmic, soothing, wonderful repetitive crochet. I'm currently up to round twenty five I think, and so far it is giving me the hugest amount of satisfaction and pleasure. 

I've designed a simple three-row pattern repeat inspired by the spike stitch border I created for the Dahlia blanket. Oh-my-gosh, it is such a neat design to crochet with just enough thought needed to prevent boredom setting in, but simple enough to provide that relaxation factor. I can't tell you how much I'm loving it.

The Yuletide blanket will be available as a yarn kit with a printed pattern in early September. The timing means that you can crochet it through the Autumn so that it'll be ready to adorn your sofa for the festive season.

I'm not sure yet how big the finished blanket will be, but I'm thinking something between 4 and 5 ft square. I want it to be big enough for a snuggle, but compact enough to easily throw over the back of an armchair.

Incidentally, are you familiar with the word "Yuletide"?? It's quite old fashioned and refers to the time around the Christmas season, usually from around 21 December until 1 January. The celebration of Yuletide dates back centuries, and was originally a way to commemorate the winter solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year. 

I hope it's OK to talk to you about this right now - I know it's a long way in advance and it does feel a bit weird to be talking about Christmas as we are just at the start of Spring! But I wanted to give you a glimpse into my creative life and to share the journey with you in real time. I always feel much happier when I'm sharing. 

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ps while we're talking about blankets and timings, I also wanted to mention that the Yuletide blanket won't be run as a crochet-a-long. My annual crochet-a-long will be happening at the same time as in previous years (yarn packs in November, with the CAL weeks running through January/February).

x

 

 

 

Comments

[EDWINA KELLOCK]

Loving those colours, this will be my Lucy Treat this winter I think. It looks so snuggly too, just what you want in a blanket.

[Judy Kiesow]

I love the idea of a Christmas blanket and I don't personally use white at Christmas. I think I may do this one!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Beverley]

Oooh Christmas blanket what a fab project using the senses of smell to define the colour scheme. So clever.

[Annie Brodrick]

A Beautiful project to look forward to come Autumn my most favorite season of the year. Thank you Lucy!

[Charlotte]

Still thinking about this one. It reminds me of a Scandinavan sweater. Prefer jewels tone for Christmas but the idea of a square is very good. Liked the Meadow Blanket, also did a baby blanket in the meadow pattern with Flutterby yarn.

[April]

Jewel tones are my fav! This looks do fun too though and I love the idea of a giant square.

[Sandra]

Loving the new blanket so different from any of your others. I can’t wait to get started.
Thanks for all the hard work you put in, to giving me lots of enjoyment with all your crochet project. You are amazingly generous.
🧶🧶🧶🧶💕

[Natalie]

The Yuletide blanket is really beautiful.
No problem at all with you mentioning Christmas things now, it's a reminder I need to get my act together if I'm to make all the gifts for family this year!

[Juliana]

Hello, Lucy,
This is so beautiful! I will probably never make a yuletide blanket, since it's in the beginning of summer here in Brazil. But I still love to see such lovely inspiration pictures now, in our autumn... ;)
Now I feel like finishing the current blanket I am making (also inspired by your designs) to make a "big square blanket", too!
Thank you for sharing this!

[Elsie]

I love the idea of a Christmas blanket. I’m in

[Carol Keskeny]

So beautiful, thank you so very much for sharing your creativeness!

[Tammy]

I absolutely LOVE Christmas and this blanket! I'm with you in that I love bright colors for Christmas and have often tried to figure out a Christmas blanket also, but never managed to get a good vibe from using brights.. I LOVE LOVE these colors and love the fact that you took them from nature and foods, 2 of my favorite things! I can't wait to see your progress AND for this to come out!

[Donna Philpott]

I can't believe how Christmasy it is without a bit of red & all that blue-green! It's stunning & I love it!

[Charlotte Pountney]

It's lovely...the way this year is racing away, we are almost a third of the way round to Christmas. I need to start NOW!

[Marylin]

Hi Lucy Loving the idea of a Yuletide blanket! And the natural color choice is just up my alley. I have not done a square blanket/throw in years, so it will be something old, new again. I can see a matching pillow as well, so looking forward to it. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and glimpses of the design process. Take care, hugs MO

[Freda lovell]

Love that the greens echo the eucalypts and yes that the reds are deep and luscious,feels warm and snuggally

[Archana Airody]

Looks exciting! Can't wait. And long overdue. These bright colours will brighten any Christmas xx

[Rose Hester]

I really like that blanket. Love the colors! I just had a thought making a basket like the one showing in the picture with the same colors. I would like to make the basket, put the yuletide throw in it for a Christmas gift. Can you do a pattern for it? So, when is the earliest we can get the yarn?

[Coastal Ripples]

I’m definitely sold on this one Lucy. Gorgeous colours and patterns. Nice to have something to look forward to making in the autumn. B x

[Noelle Sweeney]

So inspiring! I love the story behind the blankets it's always so interesting. thank you Lucy, for sharing your talent with us!

[Kate Evans]

Just lovely . . . and the use of nature to inform your colour palette is so VERY 'on-brand' for you. 🙂💖

[gina in alabama]

I LOVE Jewel Colors and would love one day to see you design a blanket in them. Jewel colors make me so happy! This blanket is lovely too. I am not really a Christmas girl, but find myself looking forward this year in hope that by then all of this Covid mess will have passed away.

[Alice Le Mero]

Absolutely love the cosy Christmas colours, I cant wait for this, I love a soothing repeating pattern in a big square!! Cant wait!! It's also really helpful to read a little of your process with designing, I've recently started designing and I'm still trying to learn how really, it definately is exciting seeing a pattern you've come up with start to develop!

[Susan]

Love it, Lucy! Stunning colors and Stylecraft is my absolute favorite yarn. Please keep posting your progress. I’ll be ready in September to start this beautiful blanket. Thank you so much!

[Linda from Boston]

Looks very interesting. I’m on the fence so far. I’m glad it’s not individual squares cuz I really don’t enjoy all that starting and stopping and weaving ends in and sewing the squares together. I’m keeping an open mind!!